festive
FEHS-tihv
Festive (adj) means having the cheerful, celebratory feel of a festival or holiday. Example: “The streets were decorated in festive lights for Christmas.”
adj
1
Having the cheerful, celebratory feel of a festival or holiday.
"The room was decked out in festive streamers, with flowers everywhere."
"The streets were decorated in festive lights for Christmas."
"Everyone was in a festive mood at the office party."
"On festive occasions away from home we softened under the influence of Christmas trees, bran pies, and conjurors."
— Siegfried Sassoon, The Old Century and seven more years (1938)
How to use festive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCheerful and celebratory, in the spirit of a holiday or party.
Common pairings
festive mood
festive season
festive decorations
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more festive
- Superlative
- most festive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The streets were decorated in _____ lights for Christmas.
Etymology
From Latin festivus, "joyous, pertaining to a feast."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for festive
See all rhymes for festive →Frequently asked questions
What does “festive” mean?
The word “festive” means having the cheerful, celebratory feel of a festival or holiday. In plain terms, cheerful and celebratory, in the spirit of a holiday or party.
How do you pronounce “festive”?
“Festive” is pronounced FEHS-tihv (/ˈfɛstɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “festive” in a sentence?
Here is “festive” used in a sentence: “The streets were decorated in festive lights for Christmas.”
What is another word for “festive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “festive” include feastful and feastly.
What part of speech is “festive”?
“Festive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “festive” come from?
The word “festive” comes from Latin. From Latin festivus, "joyous, pertaining to a feast.".
Is “festive” a common word?
“Festive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between festive and festival?
Festive is an adjective describing a cheerful, celebratory feel or atmosphere, as in a festive mood. Festival is a noun referring to the actual event or occasion, such as a music festival, from which the festive feeling derives.
When should you use festive instead of happy?
Festive specifically evokes the celebratory atmosphere of a festival or holiday, such as decorations, music, or seasonal cheer, whereas happy is a general term for a pleased or joyful feeling without that celebratory context. Use festive when describing an occasion, décor, or mood tied to a holiday or celebration.
What are common collocations with festive?
Festive is often paired with words like season, mood, spirit, atmosphere, and decorations, as in "the festive season" or "a festive atmosphere." These phrases describe the cheerful, celebratory quality associated with holidays.
